Transcription

Down. | Beckenham | Kent. S.E.

April 26

Madam

I am much obliged for your kindness in writing to me. I think it
wd. have been an advantage if I had used the word fascination, but I
intended to express some such idea when I join to charm admire &c,
the word excite.—

I fear that it wd. be very rash to use the illustration of the
snake, as very few naturalists believe in snakes having any such
power; though I myself am inclined to be a believer.

The year is established by the address, with
`Bromley' crossed out and `Beckenham' added by hand, a form that CD used
from April 1869 to May 1871, and by the reference to Descent (see n. 3,
below), which was published in 1871.

+

f2 7719f.f2

See letter from E. J. Pfeiffer, [before 26 April 1871].

+

f3 7719f.f3

CD refers to Descent 2: 124, where he states that male birds `best
able by their various charms to please or excite the female, are under
ordinary circumstances accepted'.